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Can someone help ID my hat?

0

Hey all, I need some help.

Shortest version of this story: Buddy's Grandpa hands me this, says it's the 1st official licensed item from KC.
I have no idea if that's true, part of the tag is missing, which sucks, but the thing is in really good shape.

I can't find another one online anywhere, and nobody I ask seems to know anything about it.

I'll get a pic posted in a minute, but i want everyone to get their thinking caps on lol
^edit^ got pics here, so here ya all go

In 1928, David Warsaw founded Sports Specialties Corporation, which was the first company to sign a licensing contract with a professional sports team. While creating and manufacturing sports souvenirs at his Chicago-based company, he came up with the idea for ashtrays in the shape of Wrigley Field and selling them to Cubs fans. He approached Cubs owner Phil Wrigley for permission to sell them at Wrigley Field and won him over when he agreed to pay him a "royalty" on every ashtray sold. As his business grew, so did his ideas. In addition to the ashtrays, David patented a miniature ceramic baseball player, whose head bounced on a small spring. Today, this doll is known around the world as the "bobble-head doll".
David’s sons Jim and Robert entered the family business. Together the Warsaw family grew Sports Specialties into the world's leading licensed sports headwear company. In 1963, Sports Specialties became the first official licensee of the National Football League and was the first to be named as an official championship locker room headwear supplier for special sports events such as the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, All-Star Games, and the NCAA Final Four. Now base out of Irvine, California, Sports Specialties secured the first "Authentic" license agreement in professional sports when the NFL "ProLine" was created in 1984. They became an official licensee of Major League Baseball that same year, entering the on-field professional model cap market, competing against New Era Cap Company and Roman Pro Cap Company. Sports Specialties took the place vacated by Wilson Sporting Goods, which had just left the on-field cap market.
Early 1980s Sports Specialties caps

The company's signature 100% wool sized caps, called “The Pro" (their equivalent to New Era’s 59/50), were the first contracts for "on field" authentic headwear for the NFL, NBA, NHL, Major League Baseball, and the 1992 Olympic Basketball Dream Team, as well as more than 80 countries in the International Baseball Association. Sports Specialties was bought by MacGregor Sporting Goods Inc. in 1986 and was sold by late 1987 to the Oppenheimer-Palmieri Fund L.P. Their caps were used by several Major League Baseball teams throughout the 1980s, giving New Era a run for their money by the end of the decade. More than half of the MLB teams used their caps for at least one season. Around that time, Sports Specialties and New Era were granted dual exclusive licensing for MLB caps, making them the only two makers of on-field professional model caps under the “Diamond Collection” label (Roman Pro and ANNCO were granted dual exclusive licensing under the “Cooperstown Collection”). During the 1989 World Series (between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants and when the famous earthquake struck) both teams were wearing Sports Specialties caps.
Sports Specialties caps were not made in the United States. They were manufactured by the Young An Hat Company in Korea, which still exists today but no longer makes ballcaps. Their caps were later made in various South American and Asian countries. Sports Specialties caps are recognizable by their thick wool, flat as possible embroidery, and short, narrow visors. Their sizes were also sometimes one to two times larger than New Era's sizes.

In case anyone is wondering..
The brothers James (now deceased) and Robert(they teamed up with their dad when the sports specialties was on their own) joined up with Nike in 93, when Nike bought Sports Specialties Corp from an investment firm.
....and I'm stuck there....

also, Fisherman, or Fisherman's bucket hat have shown some results, but nothing that isn't just a plain, one color hat. And nothing old. But the company was the 1st official NFL licensee, in 63, when a certain team was born.... and Grandpa did say this was the 1st official licensed item they released.
I don't know what to make of this yet... But I'm (kinda) on the trail!

Last edited by bricooper78; 01-18-2012 at 10:42 PM.
Reason: confused a fact

Well, one clue is the NFL official licensing logo, which means it's post AFL merger with the NFL. I believe the merger was finalized in 1970, but they began merging legalities a couple years or so before 1970. I would tend to think the licensed retail merchandise was sold once the merger was finalized, due to legalities, but not sure.

The logo attached appears from the photo to be genuine wool felt, if so, that indicates to me the hat was manufactured pre 1980's, which during the 80's imitation felt began to replace wool. However, if the manufacturer was considered one of high end, best quality...they could've still used genuine wool felt.

The text style also indicates to me the 70's, but again...it's hard to say for sure.

You might try searching and watching Ebay to see if one similar is listed, sometimes the seller is the original owner of a vintage item listed and will give a history, including age. :)

"Official Chiefs Crowd / Historian/Correspondent / Ambassador"

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall. The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it." ~Vince Lombardi~

Oh, and the first official license of the NFL in 1963 wouldn't have included AFL teams, which the Chiefs were. The merger began between the AFL & NFL in 1966...I just looked it up to be sure. :)

"Official Chiefs Crowd / Historian/Correspondent / Ambassador"

"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall. The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it." ~Vince Lombardi~